The profile functions enable the user to INSERT, DELETE, MODIFY or ORIENT one or more profiles. Figure 6.3.47 illustrates the functions provided in the PROFILE section.
Figure 6.3.47 Profile Options
This function enables the user to insert a profile between two adjacent profiles of the same profile group. The profiles and POP LINE are displayed and the following message is printed in the message prompt window:
SELECT FIRST PROFILE
After the first profile is selected, the following message is printed in the message prompt window:
SELECT SCEOND PROFILE
After two adjacent profiles are selected, the following message is printed in the message prompt window:
SELECT NODE ON PART AS STARTING POINT
After the user selects a node on the part boundary, the following message is printed in the message prompt window:
SELECT A POINT ON POP LINE
After a point on the POP LINE is selected, a profile is inserted between the boundary node and the point on the POP LINE. The profile type of the inserted profile is similar to the original profile.
This function enables the user to modify a profile and automatically adjust the adjacent profiles to obtain a smooth POP LINE. The Profile dialog box is illustrated in Figure 6.3.48.
Figure 6.3.48 Modify profile
GRID
Select this option to show grid in the profile window.
WHITE
Set the background color of 2D window. If this option is toggled off, the background color turns from white to black.
UPDATE
Select this option to highlight the profile. The user may view the change of profile in real time in the graphic window when modifying parameters.
CTRLPRF
After this option is toggled on, this profile is set as the control profile. The adjacent profiles vary with this control profile. After modification of profile in the Profile window, the program will update the profile in the graphic window, and add the control profile to CTRLPRF layer.
NOTE: If the addendum is added by segment, the two ends profiles will be set as control profiles automatically, as illustrated in Figure 6.3.49.
Figure 6.3.49 Addendum added by segment
The program provides two methods for modification.
l Set as control profile
Once a profile is selected, the program will prompt users if they continue to select profile.
CLICK THE MIDDLE BUTTON OR SELECT END PROFILE
Click the middle button to confirm.
1. If the profile is not set as control profile, the adjacent profiles will not vary with this modified profile. Figure 6.3.50 shows the addendum before profile modification. Figure 6.3.51 shows the addendum after profile modification.
Figure 6.3.50 Addendum before profile modification
Figure 6.3.51 Addendum after profile modification
2. If the profile is set as control profile, the adjacent profiles will vary with this profile. Figure 6.3.50 shows the addendum before control profile modification. Figure 6.3.52 shows the addendum after control profile modification.
Figure 6.3.52 Addendum after control profile modification
The addendum shape can be changed by setting several control profiles. The addendum in Figure 6.3.54 is obtained from the addendum in Figure 6.3.53 by setting several control profiles.
Figure 6.3.53 Initial addendum
Figure 6.3.54 The desired addendum
The operations are described below:
3. Set control profiles 1 and 2 without changing any parameters. The control profiles 1 and 2 will make sure that the addendum does not change, as illustrated in Figure 6.3.55.
Figure 6.3.55 Set control profiles 1 and 2
4. Set control profile 3 and change its parameters. Then set control profile 4, and set its parameters the same as the ones in profile 3, as illustrated in Figure 6.3.56. The local addendum can be changed by setting control profiles 3 and 4.
Figure 6.3.56 Set control profiles 3 and 4
l RANGE
1. Select two profiles to define a region.
2. Select a profile with the cursor. The program will pop up a dialog box, illustrated in Figure 6.3.57. Use the RANGE option to select a group of profiles in this region.
Figure 6.3.57 Select Profiles dialog box
3. After the profiles are selected, the PROFILE window is displayed, as shown in Figure 6.3.48. The user can modify profile types and profile parameters.
After modification of profiles, eta/DYNAFORM will replace the selected profiles with the modified profile, and update other profiles in the selected region to maintain a smooth POP LINE. If the AUTO UPDATE ADDENDUM option is selected, the addendum mesh is automatically updated according to the new profiles.
This function enables the user to remove one or more profiles. The dialog box is illustrated in Figure 6.3.57.
The DEFAULT option allows the user to select only a single profile by using the cursor.
RANGE
If RANGE is selected, the following message is printed in the message prompt window:
SELECT STARTING PROFILE
After the starting profile is selected, the following message is printed in the message prompt window:
SELECT END PROFILE
After the end profile is selected, the profiles between the starting and ending profiles are highlighted. The user continues the operation by selecting OK to remove the highlighted profiles.
REJECT
This function enables the user to reject the selected profile.
OK
This function deletes the selected profiles.
CANCEL
This function exits the operation without deleting any profiles.
EXCLUDE
If this option is selected, the selected profile will be excluded from the previous selection.
This function enables the user to move a selected profile to another location. Clicking on this button, the program will hide the elements of addendum automatically and prompt the user to select a profile to be moved by using the left mouse button. The user can select any profile except the boundary profile. The selected profile will be highlighted on the screen.
The program will prompt the user to select a node on the die boundary as the new location of the profile and then select another node on the POP LINE as the location of the other end of profile. After these two nodes are selected, the program will move the profile to the new position automatically.
The user can click the middle mouse button to confirm and complete the move operation. If other similar operations are required, the above operation can be repeated.
NOTE: The two end profiles defining an addendum region cannot be moved.
This function enables the user to copy an existing profile to another location. After selecting a profile, the user needs to select a node on the boundary of part as the starting point, following by selecting a point on the POP LINE as the second point. After locating the two positions, the profile is copied to the new location.
Once ORIENTATION is selected, a dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.3.58 appears. With this dialog box, the user can change the orientation of a profile relatively to the POP LINE by using four methods.
Figure 6.3.58 Orient Profile dialog box
l BY PO POINT
This function allows the user to select a profile to change its orientation relatively to the POP LINE. If the function is selected, the following message is printed in the message prompt window:
SELECT PROFILE TO CHANGE ORIENTATION
After a profile is selected, the user needs to pick a location on the POP LINE. The selected profile is moved to a plane defined by the original part boundary node and the new POP LINE location. After completing the profile orientation operation by clicking the middle mouse button, the user clicks on CLOSE button to exit the function if AUTO UPDATE ADDENDUM is selected. The addendum mesh is automatically updated.
l BY RANGE
This function allows the user to change the orientation of a selected profile relatively to the POP LINE by selecting a profile segment. The user can select this option and click the APPLY button to highlight some profiles in order to display the profile region. The user can also customize the profile region. Double click on the left mouse button to cancel the specified highlighted profiles and click on the left mouse button to select and highlight the specified profile. Then, select a profile in the selected region and drag the profile left and right. All the profiles in this region will move accordingly. Therefore, the orientation of this profile segment relatively to the POP line will be changed. After completing the profile orientation operation by clicking the middle mouse button, the user clicks on CLOSE button to exit the function if AUTO UPDATE ADDENDUM is selected. The addendum mesh is automatically updated.
l BY REF PROFILE
This function allows the user to select a reference profile and then select other profiles. The direction of the reference profile will be an orientation standard for the selected profile. After completing the profile orientation operation by clicking the middle mouse button, the user clicks on CLOSE button to exit the function if AUTO UPDATE ADDENDUM is selected. The addendum mesh is automatically updated.
l BY SYMMETRY AXIS
This function allows the user to adjust the orientation of profile so that it can parallel to the orientation of the symmetry plane. For symmetric parts, after the completion of half addendum, the user usually mirrors the generated addendum onto the other half. Therefore, before the mirror operation, the user needs to adjust the profile orientation into the symmetry plane.
Once this dialog box is selected, the program will prompt the user to select a profile to adjust its orientation. After a profile is selected, if it locates within the symmetry plane, this profile will be adjusted into the symmetry plane automatically. Figure 6.3.59 shows a typical result of symmetry operation.
(a) Before Profile Adjustment (b) After Profile Adjustment
Figure 6.3.59 Profile Adjustment
If the selected profile is not in the symmetry plane, a dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.3.60 appears.
Figure 6.3.60 Dynaform Question dialog box
Click YES to continue operation. Click NO to cancel this operation.
After the completion of operation, the program prompts the user to select other profiles to continue adjustment, or click on the right mouse button to exit this function.
NOTE: This function is only available for the symmetric parts and cannot be applied on non-symmetrical parts.